Technology Director

Closing Date:

Group:

Management Level:

Job Type:

Job Description:

Ofcom are partnering with the executive search firm Sainty Hird on this vacancy. To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to

Applications for this role will close on Friday 7 November.

About Ofcom

As the UK's communications regulator, we are delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we'll stay connected with each other.

Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We're also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

About the team you'll be part of

This role sits within the Infrastructure & Connectivity Group (ICG). Our role is to help ensure the communications services and infrastructure we use every day and rely on for nearly everything we do, work in the best interests of consumers. We do this by promoting competition, to help drive innovation and investment, while ensuring that consumers are protected and networks are resilient and secure. 

The purpose and scope of the role

As Director of Technology, this is a critical role to ICG but also the Broadcast and Media and Spectrum Groups who this role also advises. The Technology team provides technical advice, technology foresight and data analysis to inform policy decisions and shape current and future strategy. The team also manage a number of key external relationships including with academia and the tech community via innovation programmes, incubators and accelerators. This role is also a key member of ICG's leadership team and helps to champion technology as an area of expertise within Ofcom, with a particular focus on the implications of AI for the communications sector.

Your Key Responsibilities

We are looking for a highly experienced technologist, who is comfortable engaging externally and used to contributing to and influencing policy and regulatory issues (including at Board level). The candidate should be able to provide senior technology insight and challenge into complex problems, working with technical and engineering colleagues across Ofcom where relevant, manage a wide-ranging portfolio and lead a team effectively.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic policy development and delivery

• Set the overall direction and strategy for the technology team, ensuring that the team's portfolio anticipates future technology questions and issues that will support Ofcom's priorities.

• Deliver a portfolio of technical work spanning multiple sectors, providing clear direction on strategic alignment and helping to build solutions to complex problems.

• Coordinate work with other technology leaders in Ofcom, in particular Director for Online Safety technology and Spectrum Engineering Director.

• Provide well evidenced technology insight into Ofcom's policy work to ensure that policy solutions are well-founded in technical reality and future evolution.

• Influence thinking across the organisation and ensure connections are being made across intersecting areas of work by building strong relationships.

Communication and stakeholders

• Communicate clearly, including explaining technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

• Build effective senior relationships with expert technology stakeholders in industry, academia and elsewhere to support delivery of Ofcom's strategy and policy work.

• Represent the Group and Ofcom internally and externally to support delivery of our objectives, through explaining the role of technology in our work.

Leadership

• Lead a team of c.30– directly supporting their performance, development and well-being.

• Together with the other ICG Directors, build a resilient, diverse and well-motivated team with the right skills and experience to deliver.

• Co-lead the Infrastructure & Connectivity Group as a member of the Group management team – as part of this, you will have accountability for some key aspects on behalf of the team

• Active membership of Ofcom's Senior Leadership Group, role-modelling Ofcom's values.

The skills, knowledge and experience you'll need for success

• Experience: significant theoretical and practical knowledge and experience of communications infrastructure and a range of architectures, technologies and media standards used in the delivery of services. Strong understanding of the implications of AI for communications infrastructure and services would also be beneficial

• Leadership: the ability to build high-performing teams, empowering others to deliver and supporting them to develop.  Building a positive, values-driven culture within the team.

• Decision-making: the ability to horizon scan and foresee upcoming strategic challenges, setting clear direction and priorities to tackle them.

• Communication: the ability to communicate ideas and decisions clearly and confidently, and persuading others.

• Building solutions: the ability to identify and solve complex problems, drawing on a sound evidence base and technical insight.

• Relationship management: the ability to build and nurture a wide range of  stakeholder relationships in industry, academia and government both in the UK and overseas.

• Scanning Horizons : The ability to understand the impact of technological change and translate what this means for Ofcom's work.

Inclusivity Statement

Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone.  To be able to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK.  We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability. We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application.

Where positions are listed as full-time, we remain open to reduced hours, part-time arrangements, job shares, and other flexible working options. From day one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs. You can read more about our Rewards, Benefits and Well-being on our careers page.

Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need adjustments, information in an alternative format, or prefer to apply in a different way, please contact us at or call

As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here.